Understanding that the leakage of blood vessels in cancer tumors interferes with currently used oncology treatments, researchers at Uppsala University say they have discovered a novel mechanism that can suppress leakage by targeting specific protein complexes that connect the cells in the blood vessel walls. "We have studied mice that have a mutation in a certain part of one of the proteins in the protein complex," said study leader Lena Claesson-Welsh, a professor in the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, at Uppsala University and Science for Life Laboratory, in a release. "The regular blood vessels in these mice function normally, but vessels in tumors showed less leakage, and there was a decrease in edema formation. In addition, the mutant mice responded better to treatment with chemotherapy." Release | Article